Te Awamutu Watermain upgrades
Introduction
We are about to start our watermain upgrade project in Te Awamutu with GT Civil. This work is a part of the investment from the 2021/31 Long Term Plan in renewing our watermains across the district.
To be able to provide the flow and pressure levels of service to Te Awamutu and supply Kihikihi, the pipes will need to be upgraded to meet the demand. The current level of service also needs to be increased to meet the supply needs and availability to the fire service for firefighting activities.
These works are part of our wider plan to future proof the district's water supply, once the works are complete, they should serve the community for around one hundred years.
About the works
The project will run from the Taylors Hill reservoir through the Te Awamutu central business district to Fraser Street. This work will include the Churchill Street roundabout and will also cover streets in and around the town centre.
- Work within the central business district (CBD) will be done as a combination of day and nightworks.
- The site office and contractor yard is located at Churchill Street, Te Awamutu
- Laydown areas will be – Racecourse Road / Albert Park Drive / Park Road
The work is broken into six stages:
Stage 1: Palmer, Vaile, Jackson, and Fraser Streets - July - October 2024
Stage 2: Ōhaupō Road / SH3 - Aug/Sept - December 2024
Stage 3: Arawata Street - Early 2025 (TBC)
Stage 4: Taylors Avenue and Racecourse Road - Early 2025 (TBC)
Stage 5: Cambridge Road to Park Road (including Albert Park) – Early 2025 (TBC)
Stage 6: Hazelmere Crescent - Early 2025 (TBC)
Timeline
More updates will be available in the coming weeks as the work progresses and dates are confirmed. These updates will be shared via letter, contractors will work with affected businesses - in person where possible - and all information will be shared on our website here.
*Please note dates are subject to change
Stage 1: Palmer, Vaile, Jackson, and Fraser Streets
August 2024 - April 2025 | Site office and contractor yard establishment - Churchill Street, Te Awamutu Site Hours are 7am – 6pm Mon – Fri and 8am - 4pm Saturday, however vehicles may be moved around outside of those hours. |
Late July - early August | Letter drop to residents - Jackson, Brady, Vaile, Fraser and Palmer Streets |
August | Pipe construction set up - Fairview Road entrance to Te Awamutu Stadium Park. The section used for pipe welding (48m) will be fenced throughout the project. The storage area will be flagged and only used up to a week at a time. GT Civil will be working around the Athletics Club nights and events. |
19 August | Brady Street - drilling and pipe installation |
21 August | Jackson Street - open trench 20-30m from the Vaile and Jackson Street intersection. Drill will sit on the berm under a shoulder closure. Pedestrian access is around the work site. |
16 September | Service location - Vaile and Palmer Streets |
19 September* | Vaile Street - drilling (between Palmer and Jackson Streets) Vaile Street - pipe installation 6:30am - 11:30am (limited access between Roche and Palmer Streets during this time) |
23 September | Palmer Street - Opening drilled sites (between Vaile and Redoubt Streets) |
24 September | Palmer Street - Pipe installation 6:30am - 10:30am (limited access between Brady and Vaile Street during this time) |
23 September* | Site establishment and preparation Te Awamutu Water Reservoir / Racecourse Road - work will be Monday-Friday between 7am - 6pm. |
23 September* | Service location - 425 - 429 Greenhill Drive Horizontal Directional Drilling from the Water Reservoir towards the Racecourse - the drilling will be done in the small service corridor along Greenhill Drive. |
30 September* | Service locations and pipe installation - Greenhill Drive |
30 September | Service location - Brady Street |
9 October* | Reinstatement of Greenhill Drive |
4 November | Brady and Fraser Streets service locates and pipe installation |
11 November | Brady and Fraser Streets - horizontal directional drilling |
12 November | Brady Street - pipe installation |
14 November | Fraser Street - pipe installation |
Early 2025 | SH3 - service locates and pipe installation |
What to expect
Businesses and residents will be kept informed as the project progresses. GT Civil will work with businesses in the area to ensure minimal disruption.
There will be some closures to accessways from time to time, we will notify all impacted businesses before this happens. Traffic management will be onsite to assist anyone needing to access these areas safely during the work.
To help minimise disruptions, we will be doing a combination of day and night work in the central business district. We are working with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to meet their needs for work along SH3 / Ōhaupō Road.
There will also be some water shutdowns as part of this work, notice will be given to all those affected, with time to make other arrangements for water needs.
Frequently asked questions
Why are you upgrading the watermains in Te Awamutu?
Over time, the growth of our towns means that we need to provide more water to meet demand. The current pipes have reached the end of their life span and need to be upgraded before they stop working as they should. The current level of service also needs to be increased to meet the supply needs and availability to the fire service for firefighting activities. These works are part of our wider plan to future proof the districts water supply, once complete, they should continue to supply our communities for up to 100 years.
How long are the works going to take?
The work is expected to take around 11 months to complete.
What are the benefits?
The upgrades will provide improved, consistent supply and pressure as well as improving firefighting capacity.
- 10 litres per second is ideal level of service pressure.
- 25 litres per second is the ideal level of service for firefighting hydrants.
How will my business be impacted?
Most of the work will be done using horizontal directional drilling (HDD). This method is less invasive using a surface-mounted drill rig that launches and places a drill string at a shallow angle to the surface. Only a small hole is needed for this method.
While a level of disruption is to be expected, this will be kept to a minimum. We will be working closely with businesses in the CBD to ensure access to their businesses is maintained.
Private fire-fighting systems, requiring a specific flow and pressure for internal sprinkler systems, will still need to be designed and maintained by the property owners.
Will this affect parking on the main street?
The majority of works in the town centre will be done at night. We’re doing the work like this to minimise disruptions to businesses, their staff, and those shopping, eating, or wandering around town.
Any roadside parking affected during night works will be reinstated for the next day.
There may be a time when a business’ water connection is being worked on, and this could result in a carpark or two being occupied so our crew can work on their connection to the water service. Our crews will only use up to three carparks in any one work area during the day.
Are you going to dig up the rugby and sports grounds at Albert Park?
Work will be done outside of the season around the sports fields and any events at Albert Park. However, there will be open trenching needed at Albert Park. Open trenching will run along the lower carpark, behind the club rooms and along the front of the stadium to Park Road. A full reinstatement of ‘like for like’ will be done on the completion of work.
What is happening at the site in Churchill Street?
The site has been leased by GT Civil for a temporary site office and contractor yard (approx. 9 months) for the new watermain project to be constructed along SH3 and into TA town centre.
Site Hours are 7am – 6pm Mon – Fri and 8am - 4pm Saturday, however vehicles may be moved around outside of those hours.
The contractor is currently pot-holing around the work sites, to ensure underground services are accurately located. The water is pumped out during this process and taken to the site yard for disposal. The contractor is not excavating in any contaminated areas, so the ground water may appear dirty, but is the same quality as the ground water surrounding the stream.
The large hole at the site yard is a settling pond, which is used to contain any excess water from the work sites, within the boundaries of the compound. Any water added to this pond will soak into the ground within 24 hours.
About the contractors
GT Civil
GT Civil was established in the Waikato 10 years ago and have been based in Cambridge for that time. They are dedicated to using local suppliers and their staff live within Waipā and surrounding districts.
GT Civil encourage continuous learning and offer opportunities for career development within the sector. They currently have three local apprentices and 3 local trainees that will be involved with the project.
Universal Underground Limited (UUL)
Universal Underground Limited (UUL) specialise in underground utility installation and are based out of Cambridge.
Terminology
Traffic Management: a combination of measures to make sure traffic can flow through a work site safely.
Service Locate:process of identifying the location and depth of underground utilities, such as gas lines, water pipes, electrical cables, telecommunication lines, sewer, or stormwater drainage pipes.
Reinstatement:Temporary reinstatement is done when the crew still need access, permanent reinstatement is done at the end of the project.
Directional Drill Pipeline:directional drilling is a trenchless method of underground pipe installation.
Testing:All new pipes go through a testing phase to make sure they are working how they should. This includes pressure testing to check for leaks and bacterial testing to make sure they are safe for water consumption.
Commission:This is when all of the testing has been done and the pipes are ready to be switched over to be used as the watermain. The older pipes will be de-commissioned.